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American Atheists revealed details on Wednesday about its 2014 national convention in Salt Lake City, announcing that speakers will include NFL Raiders punter Chris Kluwe, Survivor®: Philippines winner and sex therapist Denise Stapley, and Grammy®-nominated Spin Doctors bass player Mark White. The convention will also feature an art show, workshops, childcare, and a comedy show the weekend of April 17-20.

“We’re thrilled to bring so many great nontheists to our convention—some of whom have never addressed our movement before,” said American Atheists President David Silverman. “This is our 40th annual convention and it’s going to be stellar.”

Creation House Publishers’ Spanish publishing division, Casa Creacion, has announced that the book “The Stained Glass Curtain: Crossing the Evangelical-Catholic Divide to Find our Common Heritage” by Father Dimitri Sala will be translated into Spanish for distribution this fall. “La Cortina de Vitrales: Cuando Penetramos la División entre Evangélicos y Católicos para Encontrar Nuestro Patrimonio Común” will be available November 2013 in the U.S. and January 2014 in international markets. Father Sala, a Franciscan Friar-Priest involved full-time in evangelical preaching and apostolic ministry, believes this book fits perfectly with the message of the new pope.

“Pope Francis was greatly involved with and respected by Evangelicals in Argentina,” says Sala, “and there is a sense that Argentina is on the point of a new springtime for evangelism among Catholics who haven’t personally responded to the Good News and for unity among Christians. This could be an effectual door for all of Latin America.”

The convicted Portland bomber, Mohamud Mohamud, is facing sentencing soon and has written a very poignant letter to the judge apologizing for his actions. The letter states, “My actions on November 26th were terrible. To think back to that day fills me with horror. I keep asking myself, ‘Is that really me on the tape?’” And also he wrote “To have to sit down and swallow all those horrible things I said and did has proven to be too much for me”. You can view the entire copy here.

The Parents Television Council issued the following statement in response to MTV Video Music Awards (VMA).

“MTV has once again succeeded in marketing sexually charged messages to young children using former child stars and condom commercials — while falsely rating this program as appropriate for kids as young as 14. This is unacceptable,” said PTC Director of Public Policy Dan Isett.

“This much is absolutely clear: MTV marketed adults-only material to children while falsely manipulating the content rating to make parents think the content was safe for their children.

“MTV continues to sexually exploit young women by promoting acts that incorporate ‘twerking’ in a nude-colored bikini. How is this image of former child star Miley Cyrus appropriate for 14-year-olds?

Local state legislators will join the Oregon Senator for a noon luncheon at the Eugene Hilton on Tuesday, August 27U.S. Senator Ron Wyden Press Release
On Wednesday, August 27, 2013, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden and U.S. Attorney Amanda Marshall will address a meeting of Zonta International on efforts to stop sex trafficking of underage girls and boys. A recent study by Portland State University released by Marshall shows that the number of children being sold for sex in the Portland area is greater than originally thought. Wyden, who introduced anti-sex trafficking legislation in Congress, will be joined by State Rep. Val Hoyle, who have led anti-sex trafficking efforts in the Oregon Legislature, and Lane County Commissioner Pat Farr.

Update: California became the first state in the nation to pass it’s own Co-Ed/Transgender Bathroom Bill when Governor Jerry Brown signed AB1266 into law a few weeks ago . The Co-Ed/Transgender Bathroom Bill gives students the new right “to participate in sex-segregated programs, activities and facilities”and allows them to choose which bathroom to use. AB 1266 is designed to help stop bullying among transgender students. Below is a press release from the Capitol Resource Institute.

Calling for respect for all students, a referendum was filed today to overturn AB 1266, recently signed into law by Governor Brown. The controversial legislation has come to be called “the co-ed bathroom bill” because of its provision that allows children in grades K-12 to choose whatever bathroom or locker room they feel matches their sexual identity.

“We respect that some students are struggling with their own sexual identity, but we ask for respect for the other students who will be humiliated when a boy walks into the girl’s locker room,” said Karen England, Executive Director of Capitol Resource Institute. “This is a privacy issue, a safety issue, and a common sense issue.”

Former Pope Benedict XVI said that his decision to step down was based purely on that “God told me to”.It was not a booming voice or a vision but rather clear communication from a months-long mystical experience. Benedict said it was “the will of God.”

The decision to resign and step down marked the first time in about 600 years since a pope stepped aside.

This new Duck Dynasty season will be the time when their Christian faith will be more publicized and scrutinized like never before. It starts with Duck Dynasty’s patriarch, Phil Robertson, who has shared on his desire to use Duck Dynasty’s new found fame as way to communicate the Christian gospel message. That is exactly is what is happening. This summer, Phil Robertson released his book, Happy, Happy, Happy, where he shared his Christian testimony and the need for Christian leaders in this country. Phil Robertson also gave a bold sermon on American Christian heritage and abortion which was made public the same month as Duck Dynasty’s Season 4 premier. Also during the same premier month, Jase & Missy Robertson hit the Christian radio circuit where they shared their personal message of sexual abstinence before marriage. The religious faith of Duck Dynasty is being presented more than ever before.

New attention is being brought to Seattle’s annual Hempfest as the state last year voted to ease their marijuana laws. Seattle Police decided to use the event as a way to educate Hempfest attendees about what is legal and what is not. To get their message out they decided to hand out out bag of Doritos with attached labels promoting their website called “Marijwhatnow? A legal guide to marijuana in Seattle.” Watch the KGW-TV news clip to see how it is being received.

Assembly Bill 1266 was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown. AB 1266 forces schools to allow students to participate in sex-segregated school programs, sports activities, and to be allowed access the bathroom and locker room of the student’s choice consistent with his or her opinion of their gender. The law is the first of its kind in the country.

“Current law dealt with this sensitive issue on a case by case basis,” said Karen England, Executive Director of Capitol Resource Institute, “but this bill was never about helping a few children that experience gender dysphoria – it is about furthering the radical Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender agenda by utilizing the public school system to force acceptance of the lifestyle on our children.